Villains #1 -- Judas Iscariot: 020812

Tonight we started a new series that is all about villains of the Bible.  Tonight we talked about Judas Iscariot.  A villia is a person who deliberately opposes a hero in action and in character.  Judas was from Kerioth, a small town in Judea, thus the Iscariot part of his name, identifying his hometown.  He bacame a follower of Jesu and was one of the 12 disciples, the closest followers of Jesus.  He was even put in charge of the money bag for the group.  But Judas was a villain.  He was a theif, stealing fromt he money that had been entrusted to him to caretake.  He was a betrayer, giving Jesus up for arrest and execution.  All this despite Jesus pouring his life into him, showing him miracles, allowing him a place of trust, and teaching him.

When we encounter a betrayer we should do two things: Avoid and Learn from.  There are many types of betrayal.  Someone who gossips and telsl a secret we told them, someone who doesn't stick by your side in difficult times, someone who makes fun of you behidn your back, or even someone who doesn't do what they promised to do.  When we encounter someone that betrays we shouldn't tell them our secrets any more, we shouldn't be come their close friend, we should love them put don't become too close to them, instead avoid them. 

God is a good God, not a villain.  God is faithful not a betrayer.  We should follow his example.  Be faithful rather than a betrayer.  Be a faithful friend in all circumstances.  Don't gossip secrets, don't aboand people during the difficult times, don't mock people behind their back, and keep your promises to them.  Be a faithful follower of Christ.  How can we be faithful?  Ask God for help in being faithful, set in your mind at the start that you will be faithful, and when difficulties do arise continue to reaffirm that promise of faithfulness.  The outcome is that you will have better and stronger relationships with others and with God.

I give tonight: B-
Favorite Moment: Saying Goodbye

C.S.I. Jerusalem -- Was it Judas? -- Matthew 26:20-28 -- March 18th

Tonight we continued our series called C.S.I. Jerusalem. Each week we have been trying to figure out whose fault it was that Jesus died. Tonight we looked at Judas Iscariot. Judas was one of the disciples of Jesus, handpicked. He was in charge of the money for the group and followed Jesus for three years. But why would we think it was his fault? Let's look at the evidence.

"When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.
And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will
betray me." They were very sad and began to say to him one after the
other, "Surely not I, Lord?" Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his
hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as
it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It
would be better for him if he had not been born." Then Judas, the one who
would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" Jesus answered, "Yes, it is
you."" -- Matthew 26:20-25 (NIV)

#1 -- Judas was accused of being the one who would betray Jesus, in fact later on in the Bible we find out that he did in fact betray Jesus for 30 peieces of silver.

#2 -- Judas did take care of the money bag, but he also took care of himself by stealing from the money bag.

#3 -- Though it is never spelled out, Judas most likely was looking for a king that would save the Jewish nation from the Roman Empire. He was hoping that Jesus would throw off Roman oppression and become king. When it became evident that he wouldn't turn against the Roman government, he turned against Jesus, disappointed that he wouldn't fulfill what he was loking for.

We know the evidence and it seems that Judas was at fault for Jesus death, but he wasn't guilty of it. Why? Well, he did betray Jesus but he didn't kill Jesus. How do we know this? He committed suicide before Jesus was killed.

The second part of our message was from Matthew 28:26-28:

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it
to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took
the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of
you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for
the forgiveness of sins." (NIV)

We spend the rest of night talking about Communion. What is communion? Literally it is eating some bread and drinking some wine (in our case grape juice). But it means more than that. Symbolically the bread represents Jesus' body, that was broken for us. It is a reminder that he went through a painful death and it was for our benefit. The cup is a symbol of his blood poured out for us. It is a reminder of a new covenant (deal) with each of us. It is a reminder that his blood took the place of animal blood, it was once and for all, enough to cover all our sins. They both remind us that we have taken Jesus into our lives and that he provides us with strength and new life. It is also a reminder that Jesus will one day return, and for that we are all truely grateful.

I give tonight a: B
Favorite moment of the night: Agent Shawna being X'd out